YOUTH SPORTS AS SERIOUS LEISURE

Abstract

It has been suggested that serious leisure can reduce problems resulting from meaningless leisure because serious leisure requires sustained and committed involvement. Youth sport participation has traditionally been viewed as a positive leisure involvement because of its contribution to healthy lifestyles and character development. These benefits can be compromised when parents and coaches engage in youth sport as their own serious leisure. This article examines the positive and negative implications of youth sports as serious leisure for children and adults. Stebbins's six qualities of serious leisure—personal effort, perseverance, career, subculture, identification, and long-lasting benefits—are discussed, as well as the role of parents and coaches. Suggestions for improving the youth sports experience are also provided.